Andrew keller



Patented Oct. 8 1889.

A; KELLER, J12, 85F. KELLER. CURB BOX (No Model.)

- UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW KELLER, JR., AND FRANK KELLER, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-THIRD TO HENRY KELLER, OF SAME PLACE.

CURB-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 412,710, dated October 8, 1889. Application filed December 5, 18 88. Serial No. 292,743- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, ANDREW KELLER, J12, and FRANK KELLER, citizens of the United States, residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Curb- Boxes; apd we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to improvements in curb-boxes, which boxes are used along the curbs of sidewalks and in other places where protection'to and access from above to a faucet-connection of water,gas, or other pipes below and ordinarily in the ground is desired; and the objects of our invention are, first, to provide a simple and inexpensive means for detachably connecting with the ordinary rectangular-headed plug of a common service-faucet, or with any faucet having a polygonal form of head, and to so construct the cover of such a curb-box that it shall be adapted to be removed and replaced by a means which operates both the said cover and faucet, and, second, to' provide means for connccting and retaining in concentric position relatively to the faucet-plug the said curbbox. We attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section of the entire apparatus. Fig. 2 is a detached portion of the wrench A, shown in part at A in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is the lower extremity of the Wrench A, shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a detached portion of the plug of the faucet, shown at B in Fig. 1, and illustrates the up per extremity or head of said plug. Fig. 5 represents a plan of the cover shown at O in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a portion in elevated section of the pipe D, shown in Fig. 1, and of the plug L, shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a common pipe-plug having a slotted upper extremity inserted in the pipe D. Fig. 8 is a plan, and Fig. 9 is a longitudinal vertical section, and

Fig. 10 a transverse vertical section, of a wrench and faucet-plug connection.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, in Fig. 1, E is a bifurcated foot-case, preferably having conical sides, the object of which will be hereinafter explained, perforated at its upper eX- the pipe D, but in this case is simplya broad 6o circular downwardly-flanged cover, (shown at O inFig. 1,) and provided on its under side with a tubular extension threaded to receive the upper extremity of the pipe D. The cover O has sunk into and below its upper face a mortise F. v.

- B is a common service-faucet having a rectangular-headed plug 13.

At G is a coupling having a rectangular mortise H through its entire height, the lower extremity of which is adapted in size to fit the head of the faucet-plug B, as shown in Figs. 4 and 1, and the upper extremity of which is adapted in size to fit the lower extremity I of the wrench A, as is also the mortise F in the cover 0, the said wrench being thus adapted to operate both the faucet B and the cover 0.

At J the coupling G is provided with a -fiange which is adapted in size to loosely fit the interior of the foot-case E, near its upper extremity, as shown at J in Fig. 1, the object being to center the said coupling with the foot-case E and pipe D, in order that the wrench A may be readily placed in position inthe said coupling G.

The coupling G is adapted to be removed from the faucet-plug when for any reason the latter is to be changed or repaired. For

instance, if it be desired to lay a larger pipe with larger faucet, the entire casing is first removed, then the pipe laid, and, finally, the coupling G fitted to the angular head of the new and larger faucet-plu g, the tapered shape of the mortise H in said coupling adapting the latter for such use on plugs having various sizes of angular heads, on which latter the coupling will fit equally well.

The case E, as before stated, is preferably constructed with conical sides, the more readily to be centered, as it isplaced over the flange J of the coupling, as shown in Fig. 1,

preparatory to being covered with earth when placed in the ground, though this case is quite free from objection when constructed in a cylindrical form.

In Figs. 6 and 7 are shown another form of cap for the pipe D, in this case consisting of a plug L, having a slot through its upper extremity adapted in size to fit the extremity I of the wrench A. This plug may be used as a substitute for the cover 0 by having the upper extremity of the pipe D threaded on its interior instead of on its exterior surface in a manner shown at M in Fig. 6, and having the plug L correspondingly threaded on its exterior to fit said thread M.

In using this invention the foot-case E, pipe D, cap, and coupling are placed in position relatively to the faucet plug B, as shown in Fig. 1, and after removing the cover 0 or plug L, as the case may be, by unscrewit with the wrench A. The wrench A is placed in position for operating the faucet-plug B, as shown in Fig. 1, and it is obvious that the plug L is but a modification of the cover 0, and performs the same ofiice and is operated to be removed and replaced by means of the wrench A in the same manner. It is also obvious that any other form of mortise may be substituted for the rectangular mortises F and H, provided the form of the said mortise in the upper extremity of the coupling G corresponds in form with that adopted for the cap, and is provided with means to prevent the wrench from turning within the parts with which it is adapted to connect.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a curb-box, the faucet-plug B, having an angular head, the coupling G, fitting said head and provided with an angular recess in its upper face, said coupling having a circular flange J, in combination with the conical case E, embracing said faucet and coupling and loosely fitting said flange, all as and for the purpose described. 7

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

ANDREW KELLER, JR. FRANK KELLER. Witnesses:

J NO. W. ENRIGHT, J OHN PARKER. 

